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Technical Guide

Can Bugs Be Detected When Not Transmitting?

Yes, some surveillance can still be investigated when no obvious RF transmission is present — but it requires more than a simple RF detector.

Concealed electronic surveillance device in a power socket
Some surveillance devices may be dormant, intermittent or non-transmitting, requiring methods beyond a live RF search.
Technical Guide

Transmission is only one way to find surveillance

A device that is not transmitting may not present an obvious RF signal at the moment it is examined. That is why professional TSCM should not be reduced to watching a handheld RF detector for an alarm.

Intermittent operation

Some devices may transmit only at selected times or under particular conditions. A quiet spectrum at one instant is therefore not proof that a location is clear.

Stored recordings

A recorder can capture information locally without continuously radiating an RF signal. Physical and electronic inspection remains important.

Multiple techniques

Spectrum analysis, physical examination and other appropriate detection methods provide different pieces of evidence.

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